Backhouse also admitted a further charge of supplying ketamine, a Class B drug, between January 1 and 5 this year.

His father Andrew, a borough councillor who was mayor in 2013/14, said: “As parents we are gutted, but that doesn’t stop me being a parent and that won’t stop me being there for him at every step of the way.

“We are standing by him because we are his parents, as any parent would and should.”

All the offences are understood to have taken place over a relatively short period of time.

Judge Peter Benson told the defendants to expect a custodial sentence but adjourned sentence for reports because of their young ages and lack of previous convictions.